COUNCIL SLASHES PARKING FEES TO BOOST CBD TRADE
QUICK trips into Airlie Beach will soon be a more appealing option as the Whitsunday Regional Council moves to halve the initial charge for using its off-street carparks.
Council- controlled car parks at Abell Point, Port of Airlie, Coconut Grove, Broadwater and Airlie Creek will soon charge $2 an hour for the first two hours, instead of the original flat rate of $4 for 0 to 2 hours. The rest of the “pay by block” fees will stay the same.
Councillor Jan Clifford said shopkeepers would welcome the change as it would encourage more locals to stop for a quick coffee or other errands in town.
“Nobody minds putting two bucks in, but four? If you’re only going to be (there) 30 minutes, that’s a bit much,” she said. “More people are likely to come in if they know they only have to put a couple of bucks in the meter.”
Councillor John Collins said the council should consider more changes to look after locals, particularly elderly residents not wanting to pay for parking during doctors’ appointments.
“It would’ve been ideal if the carparks close to the doctors’ surgeries could be first hour free,” he said.
The $2 option will come into effect as soon as the council’s contractors finished recalibrating the parking meters at a total cost of $830, and updating signage.